JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Bicyclists got on their mounts and rode yesterday at the state Capitol in downtown Honolulu. More than 50 cyclists participated in the ride, which was escorted by several Honolulu Police Department squad cars, motorcycles and cyclists. Critical Mass aims to promote the rights of cyclists on public roads. They gather once a month to ride during rush-hour traffic.

Police curb cyclists

A bicycling event that ended last month with a clash between cyclists and police rolled to a peaceful finish yesterday under a heavier police presence.

"The anarchistic joy that is the nature of Critical Mass was definitely lost. It's harder to make the point because we were all corralled."

Michael KimmittCritical Mass cyclist

About 15 officers on bikes escorted dozens of cyclists, flanking both ends of the group as it stretched along an entire block in one lane of traffic.

"Overall it went well," said Maj. Clayton Saito, of the downtown district, who said the additional police were needed to ensure traffic laws were followed while maintaining the safety of bicyclists.

The event, Critical Mass, is held on the last Friday of every month to promote the right of bicyclists to ride on the road.

Before the event, Saito approached the bicyclists and asked them to follow the traffic laws, including riding in single file.

"In the spirit of trying to cooperate with them, we let some things go," Saito said about cyclists riding abreast. It was a good trade-off since cyclists complied with officers, he said.

Police had hoped to prevent confrontations similar to the last Critical Mass event.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
More than 50 cyclists took part yesterday in the Critical Mass bicycle ride in downtown Honolulu while escorted by several police squad cars, motorcycles and cyclists. Critical Mass is held on the last Friday of every month to promote the right of bicyclists to ride on the road.

In March, bicyclists took up all lanes and blocked rush-hour traffic. Tensions escalated when an officer allegedly tried to tackle a bicyclist and collided with another bicyclist, who fell to the ground. Police said the officer stumbled while trying to stop a cyclist and accidentally collided with another cyclist.

Several cyclists said yesterday that the police presence made the event safer, but not all riders appreciated the authority.

"The anarchistic joy that is the nature of Critical Mass was definitely lost," said Michael Kimmitt, 31. "It's harder to make the point because we were all corralled."

He wanted to show that bicycles are a part of traffic and that Honolulu lacks a sufficient infrastructure for bicycles.

More than 50 cyclists left the state Capitol shortly after 5 p.m., traveling through Waikiki and ending at Anna Bannanas on Beretania Street.

Police will determine whether to increase the number of officers at the next event.